MESH

With “The Truth Doesn’t Matter,” Mesh return with a new chapter in their long-running career. The Bristol-based synthpop band has already offered the first glimpse with the singles “Exile” and “Hey Stranger.” With the album about to arrive and a European tour on the horizon, Britta Pirkko caught up with Rich Silverthorn to talk about the making of the record, the story behind those first releases, and bringing the new songs to the stage.

It’s been a while since the last Mesh album. Looking back at the years in between, was this new record quietly taking shape in the background, or did it only really begin once you consciously decided it was time to start again?

We never really stop writing, even if it’s just short pieces of music or ideas. With this album we had a few demos, but the first track we actually wrote was “Not Everyone Is Lonely” in 2024. We have already played that track live during our Legacy shows. That was the real starting point; after that we put our full concentration on writing an album.

When writing finally began, did you find yourselves naturally continuing from where the previous album left off, or was there a need to create some distance before something new could emerge?

The way we write has pretty much always been the same, so nothing changed there. Having a long time between albums subconsciously helped, I think. With every album we are always trying to move forward, so having time to come up with new ideas and inspiration certainly helped shape this album. New technology and studio techniques played a big part in the shape and sound of “The Truth Doesn’t Matter.”

Every album seems to develop its own identity during the process. Was there a moment when you realised what this record was becoming — or just as importantly, what you didn’t want it to become?

I don’t think we ever really have an agenda about how we want it to sound or what direction it should take. We just write songs, and somewhere around the midway point something starts to stand out as a theme or concept. I think that’s when the workflow speeds up, as you feel you have a direction. Even having a lyric that stands out, or something that gives you an idea for an album title, focuses your thoughts.

The first glimpse of the new era came with “Exile” in January. Why did that track feel like the right introduction, and how much does it reflect the overall direction of the album?

It literally was the last thing we produced for this album. I had written the music about 18 months ago, but somehow it had got lost among all the other writing. We were in Germany mixing the album when Mark sat outside the studio with his phone and a coffee and came up with some lyrics for it. When we returned home, he sent me the finished song.

I remember walking my dogs when I played it on my AirPods. I immediately thought, “This is it — this is the first single.” It just felt right. It had all the elements I was thinking people were expecting from us. It was upbeat enough for the clubs, it had a melancholic lyric, and it sounded like us. After that it was a mad scramble to get it added to the album and concentrate on it being the first offering from us.

With “Hey Stranger” included on the album, while “Tilt” remains exclusive to the single, how do you determine which songs truly belong on the album and which ones work better as stand-alone releases?

When the record company pushed for “Hey Stranger” as a single, Mark and I were unsure — not about the song itself, but about presenting it as a single. It felt like an odd decision to us. Around that time we also had an older demo of “Tilt.” We re-recorded it and did some additional production, and offered it as a B-side to the single.

Our thinking was that if you felt “Hey Stranger” was a bit slow, you had this alternative with “Tilt.” As it happens, “Hey Stranger” was received very well, so we needn’t have worried. “Tilt” almost didn’t happen at all.

Looking ahead to the 2026 tour: which of the new songs are you most looking forward to bringing to the stage — and are there any that feel especially challenging to translate from studio to live setting? And are there particular cities or venues on this tour that you’re especially excited to return to?

As we speak, we’re currently doing all the preparation work for the tour. This weekend will be our first rehearsal with the full band. This is usually a good gauge of what works well and what may not work as well. There is a lot of excitement about trying to bring these songs to life. So many things to learn, so we will see.

The tour itself seems to be selling very well. Some of the big shows, like Berlin, Leipzig, and Hamburg, obviously fill us with excitement — but also with a huge dose of anxiety. All good though; this is all part of what we do.

Open Mic: Before we wrap up, we’ll leave the floor to you. Beyond the album cycle and the tour, is there anything else happening in the Mesh world that you’d like to share with the readers?

I’m pretty sure there will be loads going on this year. Next comes the single “This World,” released on 12/03/26. Then the big day: the album release on 27/03/26. The tour then kicks off on 02/04/26. I’m sure there will be additional dates announced as well, so you’ll have to watch this space.

Thanks,

Rich.

Britta Pirkko
14/03/2026